Babu Bombay Street Kitchen

I have just had the best chicken curry of my life. Phenomenal! Perfect! You dream about this when you crave protein. Just the right amount of spicy and creamy and by spices I dont mean chilli. I mean I dont know how they have done this but this was absolutely the best chicken curry ever. Perfectly soft and fragrant and absolutely splendid over rice. This is a gem of a place. Will surely be visiting again.

Popped in for lunch yesterday. I had the dhal and rice with a spicy potato patty on the side. I love dhal and it varies from place to place. This one was light and very fragrant, refreshing and herby, with a spicier kick than most dhals I’ve had elsewhere — loved it and scooped it all up. The potato patty was tasty — mashed potato with chilli and ginger, lightly fried and served with some lovely green chilli mayo. Just under a fiver for dhal and rice or dhal and roti I reckon is reasonable for lunch. My fellow diners went for homestyle curries with rice and onion pickle on the side — one garlic chilli chicken and one channa masala. They were less stoked with their choices and at around the £8 mark a bit steep for somewhere that’s more of a fast casual place than a full service restaurant.
Ordering was a little confusing as the menu board has no descriptions for the street food items — I’m sure when I was here not long after it had opened there were descriptions on the board… Our orders might’ve been different if we’d known what everything was. There are only a couple of small tables with plastic stools so if it’s a busy lunchtime you might need to take away, but both times I’ve been here we didn’t have trouble eating in.
I swithered over whether to give 3 or 4 stars but I did enjoy my food so it’s a 4. Fine if you’re looking for somewhere a little bit different for a quick eat-​and-​go lunch, and I recommend the dhal!

Babu Bombay Street Kitchen is a lovely small Indian street food place hidden away on West Regent Street. I’ve been going there regularly mainly because of their food — it really is delicious. However I’ve started to get put off by a few things recently which means I come here mainly with the intention of taking food away…
The good — food is delicious, with a number of tasty options for veggies and meat eaters alike. Furthermore, the ambiance is nice and the place is pleasant to sit in!
The bad — portions tend to be on the small side, especially their wraps (for their price they should really come with a side salad for example). The staff tend to be slightly rude at times and a bit snappy. I had a slightly negative experience when I wanted to use Swipii to claim a reward and staff didn’t know how it worked and also snapped at me for wanting to use it… At other times they are just rushed.
I will be going back, just not as regularly…

March 2015
I’ve experienced Babu before at a couple of events via The Street Food Cartel, but, embarrassingly, I had not yet been to their basement premises one block from my office in town. Lunch plans with colleagues fell away mid morning but I already had it in my head that I was going to dine on something more interesting than a supermarket meal deal so had to think of something. The «eureka moment» hit me at around noon when I came across a Babu menu whilst rifling through my drawer trying to find a document for work. Decided.
Babu is just on the edge of Blythswood Square and comprises a charming little basement premises with a friendly and aromatic atmosphere. There were tables and chairs outside (not occupied as we’re still in winter) and inside with a good mix of clientèle perusing the menu and eating approvingly.
After some deliberation I chose the roti wrap (a hurrah to Barbados experiences last year) with the chicken curry of the day. This was made to order using the home style curry, lettuce, red onion, lime and coriander; I was salivating by the time I’d taken this deliciously-​smelling warm baton back to the lair.
I decided to mitigate the risk of curry to the suit by decanting said wrap onto a plate. As soon as the first mouthful hit my taste buds I knew I was in danger; it was absolutely delicious! The depth of flavour to the curry coupled with fresh salad ingredients and the bitterness of the lime was sublime. The fresh coriander (I’m still amazed at people who don’t like my favourite herb) finished it off splendidly. Wow, what a wrap!
I was a little concerned that the curry would have been toned down a bit to cater for western spice receptors but it was not; it packed a punch and tasted brilliant.
Joanna Blythman recently rated this place ¹⁰⁄₁₀ after sitting down for a meal in the café area. I look forward to doing this soon and experimenting with the different things on the menu, both meat-​free and meaty!
Simply superb.

I first knew of Babu when I tried their awesome chai at Divali in the square, and also enjoyed their fayre when they had a stall at the Commonwealth Games food village in the Merchant City. I’ve been here to sit in for food before, and had a takeaway, but recently got a delivery to my home and was super excited to see they now deliver!
I love that you can get Indian drinks from Babu, they occasionally have Maaza (my absolute favourite as it reminds me of my Indian holiday) but also have Limca and Thumbs Up. I ordered a Maaza, hoping they had one, but sadly these were out of stock so they phoned to offer me a replacement Indian drink, or two cans of something else so I had 2 Rubicon of different flavours.
Our takeaways came in generous tubs, a channa masala and veg of the day which was khattey aloo– both were very flavoursome and I had also ordered a rice to go with them. If you eat in you can sometimes get different rices, and also lovely roti bread, but their delivery menu appears a little more restricted.
The staff are always really friendly and the food is varied; I like that they have a daal of the day and have veg and non veg options, it means you always get something different. If you sit in you can enjoy the lovely Indian décor such as film posters. if you get a delivery you will get speedy service with a smile!

This place is an awesome little shop serving up quality Indian food at a great price. Though I do mean little. It was a welcome sight after recently moving to Glasgow to see an Indian restaurant serving up food I grew up with. Their curry specials are fantastic. My second trip in I had a goat curry with tori, and the curry was just like the one my mum makes. Bhel pure was fantastic as well.

Went over with my partner today for dinner as there was a special weekend event by Julie MacLeod of MasterChef! The amazing thing is, she was cooking up a special Malaysian inspired dinner! AMAZING. I was immediately sold!
During the dinner, we were served a started of Roti Canai with dahl (a type of flat bread with gravy that’s usually made of chick peas), a main of either Beef Rendang (traditional Malay dish) or Sayur Ladeh (also traditional from back home) with rice, and a dessert of Banana Fritters and ice cream (known as Goreng Pisang in my language!).
I’m happy to say that I’m very happy with Julie’s version of these different traditional foods from Malaysia! Was very happy with the tenderness of the beef rendang, and the banana fritters got me all nostalgic!
She’s also such a friendly person. We chatted for a bit and I learned that she’s actually half Malaysian! We truly have a connection (75% of through food I assume).
I love Babu as an Indian street food place on its own, but these small special events just take the cake for me (and has bumped my precious 4 stars to 5!).
Julie might host more of these events in the near future and I’ll be sure to be one of the first to book a table! Loved it!

I read about this place on Buzzfeed and figured I’d try it out. Was not disappointed. Ambiance, flavour and service all warrant a 5

I was surprised to see there wasn’t an Indian man working the place, but nevertheless the food is amazing! Everyone is very friendly and the guy recommended I get this £5 plate which had rice, chicken curry, and salad. It was all so delicious. I also tried the mango lassi £2.50 for the first time and it was really good. It tastes like a thick mango smoothie. There’s only about 3 tables to sit, but most people get takeaway anyways.

Finally broke my Babu kitchen virginity last night passing through town, having heard Unilocalers and our Fiona go on about the place.
Pretty quiet inside, so no issues in getting a table. Really friendly staff & helpful in telling you whats what, as there is some choice to be had here.
Opted for a chilli chicken with roti and Fi had the chana masala. Having heard the Mango Lassi was awesome, I had me some of that too!
Pretty quick service, as it’s plated there and then. Good portions for the price, but sadly disappointed that both of the meals were barely lukewarm, but heat aside, I found the flavours to be pretty average. The roti isn’t a roti. It’s a folded up tortilla flatbread for a more accurate description, toasted up.
I can see the appeal of this place for being different and funky, especially for lunches when you have ‘Where the Monkey sleeps’ next door (another great place for lunch!).
Is it 5* — So good that you are blown away by it and nothing else comes close? No, not really, but it is good at what it does & the Mango Lassi is really all that — a stand out item. I probably won’t entertain this place again given that there are better indian eateries around.
For lunch though — its appeal and demographic are 100% nailed and if thats what you’re after, then I think you’ll enjoy it for what it is.
You Gotta Eat Here — For Lunch! :-D

Babu is the place to go instead of grabbing a supermarket sandwich or an overpriced panini. Have a delicious curry for around £5 instead, you know it makes sense!
There’s only seating for ten people but they are set up to do takeaway and even offer three layer tiffins with curry, rice and dhal. If you decide to sit in the décor is really colourful and cheering, especially when its dreich outside.

My first impression was «this smells awesome», closely followed by «holy jeezo, it’s tiny in here!»
The great smell won out and I ordered lentil Dahl with a roll. Shortly after shoehorning myself into a seat, lunch arrived. It absolutely tasted as good as it smells. The plates are the kind of old enamel camping crockery you get –reminded me of weekends away as a cub scout when I was a kid.
Oh, and they sell stainless steel tiffins for £10/​15 — not entirely sure why they’re kept in the fridge though!
I’ll def be back to try out some more of their menu — the staff were really helpful to folks who were unsure of what things were, and it’s really cheap too!

About an hour to kill before we can check into our hotel? Might as well find a place for a late lunch. We trekked through the rain dragging our luggage up from the central station and it was totally worth it. Luckily there was a table with 2 seats available so we sat right down.
We ordered the chili chicken curry with rice and the chickpeas with the toasted roll and the lentil soup to start. Gotta say this is the first time Indian food in the UK reminded me of being in India. I really wish I had a second stomach to be able to eat more! Such good food and it really does define what street food in India is like.
Perhaps it was my expectations but thought it was nice that they actually served you if you’re dining in. The place reminded me more of a deli kinda place and figured you’d pick up your food at the counter and bring the tray up after you’re done!

Babu, is by far, one of my favorite places to eat in Glasgow. We were first introduced to this fab food at the Saturday market in Partick. The smell alone made us instant fans, but once we chatted with the owner, it was a no brainier that this place is amazing. Fast forward to a day in the city, walking up and down the streets thinking about what to eat. As we approached West Regent Street, the smells coming from an unknown place made our bellies gurgle away in hunger! As we approached, I saw the sign for Babu and we were set. We knew exactly where we were going to eat.
We walked in and were immediately greeted by the owner and we got to chatting. It was then that she recognised us from the Saturday market. We ordered, sat down and waited for our food to be made.
I ordered a spicy egg concoction on a Morton’s roll (a little bit of Glasgow mixed in) and it was the most delicious breakfast sandwich… or any time sandwich really that’s I’ve had in a very long time.
Not only was the owner friendly and chatty, but so was her staff! At the end of our meal, she let us sample a bit of pistachio brownie that was to die for!
I can’t wait to go back again and again and again!
Oh…and one more thing. The owner makes the most bangin’ cuppa. I dream of her tea!

Tried Babu Bombay’s food at the Southside Street Food Showdown and have been looking for a reason to visit it since then. I was walking round town today a little hungover with a serious craving for something to eat when Babu’s Vanu Pau popped into my head. This is the spicy potato fritter made with green chillis and ginger, served with chilli and coriander chutney and tamarind sauce in a Morton’s roll. As soon as I’d thought about it, I couldn’t get it out my head and so I walked out West Regent Street to find the shop and satisfy my craving.
It’s a lovely little place with three small tables that fold down from the wall with small plastic stools to sit on. The décor is quirky and it feels like a fun place as soon as you walk in. There are a lot of food signs up and a blackboard too, so take a minute to have a good look at the choices. I’ve got a few things earmarked for when I next go in.
The service is fast and friendly, exactly what you’d expect from a street food place. The food is just awesome — I don’t know how somebody can make potato in a roll so darn tasty. The green chillis give it a really fresh note and it’s beautiful and spicy, it’s quickly become one of my favourite things to eat. I’m definitely going to work my way through more stuff on the menu though, it all looks far too good not to try. I especially like the look of the breakfast menu.
And I tell you what, Vanu Pau and a can of Irn Bru doesn’t half fix a hangover!

After being back in Rainey Glasgow for a month following our 4 week travelling India we have been suffering serious withdrawls of Indian street food. Babu promised to deliver and did so in spectacular fashion!
The smells immediately brought back memories of our recent trip, we had Pau Bhaji, Keema Pau, Sev Puri, a mango lassi and 2 bottles of Limca’s fizzy drink.
The food is fantastic, fresh, authentic with a Glasgow twist. See you soon for our next fix! =))

Another of my newly discovered favourites in Glasgow. I was meeting my friend for lunch before we started work and we were undecided whether to try Babu or Where The Monkey Sleeps next door. It was an easy decision once we smelled the food cooking away inside Babu.
I loved the simplicity of the interior and the main focus (quite rightly) is the food. I wanted to try everything on the menu — it all sounded delicious. I opted to have the curry special — chicken xacuti, a coconut Goan curry. This came with rice and the choice of 1 side — I went for the Bombay slaw. The plate was piled high and was very reasonably priced — just £5.50.
This was one of the best curries I have ever eaten. The chicken was so tender and flavoursome, the sauce was full of flavour and the Bombay slaw was a great addition. on the side.
I will be back soon to taste some of the other dishes on offer.

A wee review update to give an idea of what the takeaway is like! I popped in for lunch yesterday, a total flying visit as I needed to be back home so just wanted to grab my food and go. They now have signs up that I don’t remember from my first visit explaining the options available that day.
I went for garlic chili chicken with rice in a takeaway box, with an option of sides. I went for the raita after taking the staff members recommendation, and it was just what it needed as it was quite spicy. The takeaway is packaged up in a styrofoam container that probably isn’t spill proof, so make sure you hold it up the right way. I also got a mango lassi after sampling it on my first visit. All up it came to £8 which is a little steep for lunch but I don’t go every day, so that’s fine.
I drove home (about 20 minutes) and sipped my lassi. Delicious — and I hate mango normally. This mango is a different variety and has a really nice flavour to it, not too strong. I believe the lassi is made with cream and yoghurt and I found it didn’t make me feel sick at all (I’m lactose intolerant to some dairy items). Hurrah.
The curry was still warm by the time I got home, and delicious. So the food travels well and packs a real flavour punch. I would have liked to get a wee bit of salad in the box too for that price but it was rice/​roll or salad, not both.
Love this place for a fast takeaway or lunch in town, it’s shaping up to be a hard place to beat. It also looks like they now accept card payments! They also take Swipii cards.

Awesome just awesome.
You won’t get many 5 star reviews from me that do not involve beer.
BBSK is very different from all the other Indian Restaurants you will come across in Glasgow.
In fact it should not even be classed in the same genre, it is a café doing brilliant inventive breakfasts and lunches. (With the option to take away some curry for your dinner later that day) I love the way they are doing tasty Indian food, but putting Scottish twists on many of the dishes.
I went for lunch yesterday and had the Big Boy breakfast wrap. Bacon, omelette, spicy curry mayo and salad, all wrapped in a Chapati. Tasted brilliant and was only £4.50 — bargain.
The other food on offer also looked amazing, I will be going back soon to try the Garlic Chilli Chicken, with a crispy roll on the side!
The place is very cool inside, all done up to look authentic and the drinks range on offer also falls in with the theme/​style of food on being sold.
My only warning would be is that there is very limited seats inside, so best to have take away in mind and take the chance of a seat as a bonus.
Visit Babu Bombay Street Kitchen, you will not be disappointed.

Street Kitchens, at the moment they are cooler than an Eskimo’s iced latte, but a ‘fad’ that I think is here to stay, thanks to the UK’s new love of fresh, tasty, fast-​food.
The days of greasy, fried foods as a means to quickly satisfy a rumbling tum are becoming a thing of the past (hooray!). ‘Street’ style canteens /​take-​aways are where it’s at now and Babu Bombay Street Kitchen in Glasgow is a place that is definitely leading the trend.
Having recently opened next to über sandwich legends ‘Where the Monkey Sleeps’, this little corner off Blythswood Square is becoming a mecca for lunch goers. It’s just a small wee take-​away but so tastefully decorated and lit with its quirky lighting, wooden crate panelling and Bollywood posters.
Available each day are a fresh selection of homestyle curries, cold tiffin snacks and spicy Indian inspired sandwiched. After walking past Babu on the way to work the past few days I couldn’t resit stopping by for a breakfast treat.
I had no idea what to expect, Indian style breakfast, what could that possibly be? Well, fortunately these guys keep it simple for us morning people, there are 3 breakie chapatti wraps (eggy, bacon, or both) and an Indian style scrambled egg, nice! I went for the omelette chapatti and it was the spiciest thing I’ve ever eaten for breakfast (but in a «thank you Lord this is awesome» kinda way). The wrap was so fresh and fragrant; with it coriander and lime juice but yet had a nice chilli and ginger kick to it also. As a breakfast, so different from what I am used to but also so very good. I washed this down with a lovely milky and rich chai tea. It was sweet, spicy and delicious.
I have a strong feeling this place will become a Glasgow favourite as we all know about Glasgow’s love affair with Indian food. Top marks!